His eyes bugged out. “Are you kidding? I’ll be fucking devastated. So will Lee, and McClusky might actually cry. There’s nothing I want more than playing on the same team’til we’re both old and gray, but we both know that’s not how this career works. But truthfully, all I really want is to know you’re happy, man. And if Holly makes you happy, that’s all that matters to me. You’ve had a long career. Agoodcareer. We all know our time in this is limited, and you aren’t exactly fresh and youthful.” He chuckled when I flipped him off. “Her life’s here, man. She’s got her family and that bookstore. In hockey years, you’re practically an old man.”
“Are you getting to a point, or are you getting off on insulting me?”
He leaned forward, bracing his elbows on his knees, his expression growing solemn. “You have the chance at something real with that woman, man. Something big. If you don’t retire and move here to be with that woman, you’re an idiot, brother. Besides, it’s not like you’re going to lose any of us, and DC’s only a few hours away.”
“Thanks,” I said, my throat suddenly feeling tight. That was the last thing I expected him to say, but it was exactly what I needed to hear.
“Hey, wisdom’s my middle name. Who knows. Maybe when it’s time for me to hang up my skates, I’ll look into life coaching or self-help. I’m pretty good at this shit.”
Chapter Twenty-Two
Holiday
The cue ball rolled across the green felt and bumped into the eight ball with a resounding clack sending it right into the corner pocket with a resoundingthunk.
“You havegotto be kidding me,” Tanner declared loudly, an over-the-top glare that had me curling over with hysterical laughter. “I just got played, didn’t I? You’re a pool shark.”
Lennix came up beside the table we were playing on, depositing another round of drinks. “She suckered you, huh?”
Tanner and I had officially been dating for a month and a half, and he’d insisted on celebrating by taking me out on a date. We’d had an amazing dinner at the Groves, the fanciest restaurant in the county. The food was delicious, but it was the ambiance that had kept the place in business for well over a decade and a half. The rustic cabin was tucked into the foothills, surrounded by trees from all sides. Gas lanterns lined the walkways and twinkle lights wrapped around the surrounding trees and spread out along the large outdoor patio. The place screamed romance. It was expensive as hell, so it wasn’t a placeI treated myself to often, and now that I’d gone with Tanner, I wasn’t sure I’d ever be able to go back by myself.
After an incredible, romantic dinner with the man I’d managed to fall head over heels for, we’d decided to keep the good times rolling and headed to the Tap Room. A live band was playing, and the place was filled with friends and acquaintances. I couldn’t remember the last time I’d had so much fun in one night. And most of that was attributed to the incredible man who was, in that very moment, scowling like someone had just pissed in his Cheerios.
The glare Tanner shot my bestie had a whole new round of giggles bubbling up in my throat. “Can you really sucker someone when you aren’t even playing for money?”
At that, Lennix raised her brows, cocking out her rounded hip and placing her hand on her waist. “Then what’s got you so butthurt, big guy?”
I tugged my bottom lip between my teeth and bit down. “I think it’s the fact that he spent the whole drive here bragging about what a great pool player he is.” I shifted my gaze to Tanner, giving him a cocky smirk. “He went on and on, so I had no choice but to show him up.”
Lennix slapped her thigh on a loud laugh. “Ha! Sucker. That’s what you get for being so braggy. My girl here had to put you in your place.”
Tanner’s head whipped in my direction, his scowl still in place but with no heat behind it. In fact, those warm eyes of his were glittering with humor.
I shot him a wink before bracing the butt end of my pool cue on the floor and striking a pose. “Don’t hate the player, honey. Hate the game.” My words cut off on a yelp when Tanner moved at the speed of light, looping one of his strong arms around my waist like a steel band and lifting me off my feet, spinning me in a circle.
He kept me close when he finally put me back down. His eyes were warm and smiling as his hand came up to caress the side of my neck in that way I loved so much. “Hating you isn’t possible, Sunshine,” he said softly, but the words and the feeling behind them might as well have been blared through a megaphone by the way they pierced my chest.
“Oh my god. You two are the freaking cutest ever.”
We’d both been lost in each other’s gazes, clearly forgetting where we were and that we were surrounded by people. Tanner let out a pained groan, dropping his forehead to mine as I let out a quiet laugh. My arms circled his shoulders, and I raised on my tiptoes as he lowered his head enough for me to reach, pressing a kiss to his lips. It was soft and packed with emotion.
When we finally broke apart, I caught my friend’s gaze, and my chest gave a squeeze at the happiness painted across her stunning features as she watched us. “So happy for you, babe,” she mouthed before turning around and walking back toward the bar.
“You having fun, baby?” Tanner asked as he brushed my hair behind my ear.
A wave of emotion crashed into me, causing my heart to swell so big it felt like it couldn’t fit in my chest. There wasn’t enough space. Even my lungs felt compressed.
“Tanner,” I breathed out, my feelings threatening to get the best of me. I’d been holding those three words for a while now, and I could feel them bubbling up inside me, crawling up my throat. “I...”
“What is it, baby?” His brows pulled together as his thumb dragged across my bottom lip. “You okay?”
I love you!
The words bounced around inside my head, so loud they made my ears ring. “I’m good. I just want to tell you...”
“Tell me what?” he asked with infinite patience.
Sharp whistles pierced the air, followed by the thrum of a guitar as the band started back up, but it was enough to burst the bubble that Tanner and I had been wrapped up in.
